Ground broken on new Lake Forest hospital

Four years ago, when Northwestern Memorial HealthCare merged with Lake Forest Hospital, officials promised the building at 660 N. Westmoreland Ave. would be replaced, a commitment made real today during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new $378 million Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital building.

Officials say the first patient will enter its doors in 2017.

"This will be one of the top academic medical centers in the world," said Thomas J. McAfee, president of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. "This will be one of the top teaching communities in the U.S."

He paused, then added, "right here in Lake Forest."

That statement prompted a standing ovation from the roughly 250 guests that included donors, hospital officials, hospital board members and politicians including Sen. Mark Kirk, Rep. Brad Schneider and Lake Forest Mayor Donald Schoenheider.

The ceremony was held beneath an air-conditioned tent on the site of the new hospital while Lake Forest Symphony members performed in the background.

During the ceremony, Kirk walked slowly with a cane to the podium, then recounted his experience in 2012 at the hospital. In January of that year, Kirk said, he checked into Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and learned he had suffered a stroke.

Kirk said he recalled holding the hand of a physician as he went into surgery and asking what his chances of survival were.

"98.5 percent you're going to live," Kirk remembered the doctor saying.

The 470,000-square foot hospital will house technology including what's termed "telemedicine;" a teaching hospital component; private rooms; a common area, as well as hiking and biking pathways linked to nearby trails. A 60,000 square-foot medical office building for about 60 physicians will connect to the hospital.

Debbie Saran, co-chair of the new hospital campaign, invited John and Brenda Dick to place a leaf-shaped ornament featuring their signatures on one of two wooden trees of legacy created for the ceremony. In 1942, the Dick family donated the grounds of their family farm to create the hospital, Saran said.

Other donors were similarly feted, adding their leaves to the tree.

The hospital had its start in 1899 as the Alice Home Hospital on the Lake Forest College campus, until a new building was built on the donated property, according to hospital officials.

Dr. James G. Adams, chair of emergency medicine at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, said he is one of many physicians eager for this new phase with the hospital to begin.

"Those of us who have dedicated ourselves in the healing field know in the end we have to make (being treated at the hospital) a very human experience along with the newest technology," Adams said.

The new hospital will make that possible, he said.

"You have a real jewel here," Kirk told the audience, adding, "It's important for the economic development of the state of Illinois."

Tim Zopf, senior vice president of Northwestern Medicine said the event was a celebration of 115 years of Lake Forest Hospital's history.

"But more importantly, we look forward to the next 100 years," Zopf said.

In September, a pond and berms will be built, he said, and in spring, major construction will begin.

Officials said that for two years, hospital and city officials, community residents and other health care-related entities discussed the idea of erecting a new hospital.

In July, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the construction of the hospital on the 170-acre campus, which opened the doors for work to begin.

Catherine Czerniak, director of community development for the City of Lake Forest, recalled the Lake Forest community's apprehension two years ago when the new hospital was proposed to the city planning commission.

Residents were concerned that the original proposed five-story building would be out of place or would impact neighboring properties, Czerniak told the Tribune in July. The design now is a three-story building with a series of pavilions in an arc, she said.

The city granted a special use permit in May 2012, approved the master-use-plan for the campus design in October 2012 and then worked with an advisory committee and community members during the design phase.

The final plan was approved by the Lake Forest City Council this January

The campus will have 116 acres of open space. Bioswales and wet meadows with vegetation will be built so stormwater can move more slowly, preventing pollution, Czerniak said.